𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕚𝕕𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕘𝕣𝕚𝕟𝕕

[formidable]

OPEN POST It so happens that on a dark and stormy night in a city, (somewhere, anywhere really), someone may spot a beautiful gilded wooden door nearby wherever they are. Side of a building? In an alleyway? Near a dumpster?? Usually, it appears somewhere that's out of sight and out of mind, where the majority of people can't see it. The door looks warm and inviting and it's just a secret begging to be opened up so you can find what lies within... ❂❂❂ ... It's surprisingly normal inside; a surprisingly normal cafe actually. The interior is a warm mixture of red brick walls and sleek wooden floors and tables, along with comfortable looking sofa chairs and a large couch with a coffee table to accompany it. The ceiling is decorated with colorful hanging lanterns that cast interesting shadows on the walls and floors. A large black bookshelf sits next to the counter where there are various books and novels that have an age to them from past readers and customers. Behind the counter are the usual machines, bottles of syrups, jars of coffee beans, and tea blends in decorative jars. The black chalkboards aligned on the wall are strangely empty except for the special of that day and a lavishly illustrated logo which can only be the establishment's name. ❦ THE MIDNIGHT GRIND ❦ There's no other way to say it. This place is cozy. There is someone behind the counter, but depending on when you come in, it's going to be a different barista who will serve you. Or you can say hi to other customers and hang out with them! ❂❂❂ The Midnight Grind is a magical cafe with a door that appears in any location, across different universes and even time periods. It is a place to relax, eat, and drink, and collect yourself before heading back to whatever business you were in the middle of. It is run and owned by a witch named Iona J. Oakes, her golem companion Oren, and their main barista, Monts. Volunteers to help out with busy shifts are welcome and will be compensated appropriately. ➤ it's just a blur ➢ "Why'd I Wait?".

Comments

Amelia Steinbeck

[recluserose]

[She is not an employee or a volunteer, but merely a customer.

Amelia Steinbeck, tends to hang out at the Grind on quiet evenings. Her drinks change from time to time, but otherwise, she'll stick with a hot latte with cinnamon and nutmeg dusted on top while enjoying a book. She sits by herself, uninterested in the business of other customers, only politely greeting the Grind employees.

She doesn't mind sharing a table though, so if other seats are full, she'll nod when Iona asks her to share her space. Amelia will briefly acknowledge your presence.]

Depending on how you see your fortune, I am not a sparkling conversationist. I hope I don't bother you.

[ofrockbottom]

Heeeey, no sweat! I think I'm good enough to keep a conversation rollin' between the two of us. If anything, I gotta hope that I won't be buggin' you.

[As some of his friends would say, Ichiban's greatest quality was being a pain in the ass for others. Even though he looked big and intimidating, his smile was very friendly and child-like. He'll decide to sit down at the table where Amelia was. It was his first time in a cafe like this... He's still not sure what to order yet. The atmosphere was right at home for him even if it wasn't the Survive Bar. Straightforward as ever, Ichiban just goes for the quickest topic starter.]

I'm kinda new to these parts, so I still dunno what to order. Got any recommendations?

[recluserose]

Depends.

[Amelia isn't so rude that she'll give the stranger across from her the silent treatment even if he does look intimidating. She sets down the book into her lap trying to think.]

Sweet or bitter? Hot or cold? Is there something you usually drink, but wouldn't make for yourself normally?

[ofrockbottom]

Huh? Uhhh, shit... That's a good question! I'm usually on the run a lot!

[Scratching his head and mumbling to himself, Ichiban ponders for a moment. This place didn't sell any alcohol which was fine in his book. He wasn't a overly heavy drinker. Perhaps something simple and effective would do the trick for him...]

How 'bout oolong tea? That's usually good on the bones and helps with boosting MP.

[Don't mind his gamer lingo. Even his best friends find that a bit weird.]

[recluserose]

Alright. I'm sure they have something basic like that in stock.

[She doesn't seem put off by his gamer lingo at least. Heck, it's kind of hard to tell what her expression is because she's a bit of a poker face. She waves over Oren who has his notepad ready.]

One oolong tea. Seems like he's new.

[The dark-haired man nods and goes to fulfill the order. To clarify, Amelia turns to Ichiban.]

New customers get their first drink free on the house. Thought you ought to know.

[ofrockbottom]

Whoa--Word?! There's no cafe in Ijincho that would ever do that. Might be a good thing that this ain't a bar or people would take advantage of that rule.

[And trust him... He knew all sorts of troublemaking types back home. Speaking of which, that did raise a good question in his mind.]

Hey, uh... I've never seen any advertisements or commercials 'bout this joint. Come to think of it, I found this strange door in an alleyway while I was lookin' for a cat and it lead me to here.

[recluserose]

[Ah, normal person. She realized it early on, but it's better to get clear context clues.]

It's not highly commercialized, but people tend to come across it one way or another. I don't think you'll regret your choice though. It's a nice cafe.

... Did you ever find the cat?

[That seems important ok]

[ofrockbottom]

Damn straight I did! Managed to report it and the people who lost their kitty had gotten it back.

[He shoots Amelia a thumbs-up with a smile. One quest down in his book! The CEO of Part Time Hero was a bit of a weirdo, but Ichiban couldn't deny a cry for help. He hoped that they would be able to keep a better hold of their cat from now on.]

Sooo... Guess I'm just chillaxin' here for right now. How often do you drop by here, anyway?

[recluserose]

Me?

[She was just gonna go back to her book, but guess she's talking!]

Not very often. Usually in the evenings. I might stop by in the mornings if I don't feel like making my breakfast.

[ofrockbottom]

Huh. I'll haveta put this place on my mental checklist for dropping by again.

[It was still strange that no one seemed to be familiar with this cafe. But at the same time, it wasn't uncommon for certain restaurants to go overlooked in Ijincho. "Is this place really Ijincho?" is what Ichiban thinks for a second. But Amelia's book seemed to be the new object of his attention.]

Hey, hey. Whatcha readin', anyway? It looks kinda old...

[He's going to leaaaan over just to try and steal a glance at a page.]

[recluserose]

[Annnnd she's going to hold up her book as if to defend herself? To block. Either way, she's beginning to look displeased.]

I could tell you without you moving so close to me sir.

[She and Iona are both witches. They aren't giving up that sort of information anytime soon. Besides, most normal people tend to never find the cafe again.]

... I'll be mildly surprised if you can find this cafe again, but it's possible. It tends to be overlooked.

[ofrockbottom]

--Oh! My bad! It just looked really interestin' and all!

[And he'll be pulling back. No Adachi or Nanba to tell him to dial back his curiosity. That straightforwardness of his was both his greatest strength and weakness.]

Sheesh... You're talkin' like this place is made of magic or something. I mean, I've always been a big fan of knights, dragons and mages... But most people don't really hold onto that wild sense of imagination.

[As someone who played Dragon Quest and RPG games religiously, Ichiban's sense of reality was a little less down to earth than most would give him credit for.]

[recluserose]

Well. [She sniffs and readjusts her glasses.]

Just don't do that again.

[At the mention of magic... There's no reaction because hey, magic? That's just silly! Yes. Very silly.]

It's just a cafe.

[And that's the truth of it! Speaking of here's your oolong tea Ichiban, served to you by Oren who leaves as soon as the cup is set in front of him.]

Better enjoy your free drink. If you need ideas on what else you can order, I'll answer. They never really write down a menu although I've advised them to at least have some items on there.

[federates]

[ barton doesn't seem to mind any curtness. he holds a dense book in one hand, a hot, black coffee within a to-go cup in the other. it's no vaporwave boba, but it would do. he sets his cup down and takes a seat without hesitation. ]

[ his eyebrows raise as peers at her. hi, amelia. ]

What's "fortune" gotta do with anything?

[recluserose]

[oh its you... Amelia doesn't even try to hide her nose-wrinkle at Barton. Her brief stint in hell came and went and while she was happy to not be indebted to the Daitengu and get all of her magic back, some people she's not entirely sure if she's happy(?) to see have started to be customers (probably because of the other barista, what a coincidence...)]

Hello. Surprised to see you here at a cafe rather than some unruly wrestling ring.

[amelia play nice]

[federates]

I wish! [ maybe. if he did, he would be there already. ] But wrestling with some amateurs would get boring quick.

[ he leans back in his chair, giving her a grin. ]


Not so surprised to see you having been alone at a table, though.

[recluserose]

Excuse me?

[Amelia grunts, deciding not to hang onto that remark as she closes her book.]

Though it's lessened over the years, I still prefer books to people at times.

... But it's good to see that you are well. No signs of the Enma I presume?

[federates]

Ah? What, people have become more tolerable to you?

[ he'd like to think that nice character development, but who knows. ]

Nah. [ a hollow chuckle. it's an exasperated noise. ] Then again, us Department lackeys never really got much a chance for meet 'n greets with the big guy in the first place.

[recluserose]

In a way. There are people who are worth being with.

[More like she's learned to be among people a lot better but that's not something she'll talk about now.]

Hm. That's not too surprising, I suppose. The Enma always seemed like an unapproachable sort. But now that our souls aren't bound to those creatures in Jigokucho, I guess we can all rest easy.

That is unless you're going around different worlds just to pick fights.

[federates]

[ barton had almost been ready to engage in a more peaceable activity - as peaceable as his book about some historically terrible war can be - when amelia remarks on him picking fights. that reminds him. how could he be so thoughtless..? ]

[ closing the book again, his gaze snaps back up to her. ]

Well? Don't you have your powers back here?

[ OwO ]

[recluserose]

[Amelia looks up from her book. Glances back and forth not-so-surreptitiously between Barton and the pages before answering carefully.]

... Yes?

[She takes her cup of coffee and takes a sip.]

I am not going to use them against you, you know.

[federates]

[ barton's eyes widen, apparently aghast. he'd already hyped himself up!! ]

[ loudly, ]

What! Why??

[recluserose]

Because I have a class to teach on Monday and my weekends are precious, Barton.

[She sniffs and goes back to her book although it's hard to engage with it now that the witch has this familiar... Person trying to get her to fight him.]

Also, I don't think you'd want to push me.

[federates]

Why not?

[ while that does sound like.. a challenge that he should meet, and thus very tempting to push (you think he's AFRAID!) on it, he'll resist for the moment. still, curiosity wins out, ]

What would you do?? Make my head explode? Turn my skin inside out?

[recluserose]

[There's a second or two of silence before Amelia closes her book and looks at Barton with the most neutral of expressions.]

That's too messy.

If anything I could turn you into the size of a mouse and then put you in a box. Then I'd put that box into another box and then another.

[.........]

And then I'd mail those boxes with you inside them to another country.

[LOOK HE ASKED]